Cap



May 3, 1927.

` S. M. RUMBOUGH CAP Filed Feb. 18, 1924 l/TL.

Patented May 3, 192,7.

UNITED STEATES PATENT OFFICE.

v Application illed February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,431.

My invention aims to provide an improved cap for collapsible tubes, sprinkler tops and other receptacles. The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper end of a collapsible tube with the cap partly in section in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cap in an open position; l

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cap locked open;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the parts in the position of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 to 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention, Fig. 6 being a view from the right of Fig. 5;

' Fig. 7 is a view with the cap opened and Fig. 8 is a detail. Referring to the embodiment of theinvention illustrated the collapsible tube 1 is p rovided with a neck having a plain cylindrical ortion 2 and a threaded end portion 3 of arger diameter. The tube is closedby means of a cap 4 having a flange 5 of polygonal contour, or milled for turning it easily.

The head of the cap carries a packing disc 6 of cork or the like and the body 7 of the cap is internally threaded to engage the 3 upper part of the neck.

The cap is connected to a retaining ring 8 internally threaded also to engage the threaded part 3 of the neck, and having an internal ange 9 which en ages the shoulder on the lower side of the t readed portion 3 of the neck so as to prevent upward movement beyond the position of Fig. 2. The cap has a lug 10 extending down alongside the retainin ring and between a pair of ears 11 on t e latter carrying a pin 12 which passes freely through a slot 13 in the lug 10.

Fig. 1 shows the closed position. When the tube is to be opened the cap and retaining rin are unscrewed to approximately the F limit o their movement,ior until the body of the cap is free of the threads on the neck. The cap is then swung back to the position of Fig. 2. In closing, it is only necessary to swing the cap over the top of the neck and screw it down, at the same time screwing the retaining ring 8 down with it.

The elongated slot 13 serves to lock the cap open. With the parts in the position of Fig. 2, the pin being in the remote end of the slot 13, the cap can be swung freely about the pin 12 to the closing position.

If, after opening it as in Fig. 2, the ring and cap together be screwed down onto the neck, as in Fig. 3, the cap, striking the top of the tube 1,4wi11 be moved up with respect to the ring 8 so as to bring the near end of the slot 13 into engagement with the pin 12. The portion of the lug 10 projecting above the pivot pin will then be so great as to prevent the cap from being swung upward. The cap will, therefore, be locked open and the tube may be tilted to squeeze the contents out or to shake them out, without the cap getting in the way. In fact, even in the position of Fig. 2 the slot will tend to hold the cap against accidental swinging from the neck of the tube. In this position, if the tube be tilted the tendency is for the cap to fall, the slot 13 sliding on the pin 12 to bring the latter into the near end of the slot and thus revent the ca from swinging. Thus it will automatical y lock itself open.

For greater security in this locking operation, and to hold the parts rigidly together the slot 13 is preferably inclined as indicated, the remote end of the slot being inclined away from the center of the cap. The result is that the parts hang loosely, with a -certain play between the lug 10 and the side of the retaining ring 8, so that the cap can be freely manipulated while the tube is held upright. But when the tube is inverted, the weight of the cap will, acting through the inclined slot 13, press the lug 10 against the side of the ring 8 and take up the looseness referred to. Or, holding the tube upright as in Fig. 3 and screwing the ring 8 down, the cap will be pressed upward and against the side of the ring so as to take up the looseness and lock it rigidly in place.

The retaining ring is not necessarily threaded on the neck of the tube. It may be a simple ring turning on the neck and retained thereon in various ways. For example, it may be a wire loop fitting a reduced part of the neck with ears at the ends for hinged connection with the cap. The hinge may be of various designs and the cap also may he of any usual or suitable design fitting either over or wit-hin the neck of the tube.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the retaining ring 8 is formed with ears 11a which are each provided with a circular aperture to receive the extensions 15 which project outwardly from the depending arms 16 formed on a spring ring 17. r

This ring is seated in a groove 18 formed in the ca and it may be held in said groove by its in ierent spring quality or the metal of the cap may be pressed over to secure it in place. In either case the arms 16 will have suiiicient resilience to hold them with a spring pressure against the surfaces 19 of l0 the ears 11. The extensions 15 form pivots or trunnions for the cap and because of the resilience of the arms 16 the cap will be yieldin ly held or locked in any position to whic it is swung. Fig. 7 shows the retainer 8 adjusted klevel with the top of the threaded part 3 of the neck and the cap 4 swung open and yieldingly held in a vertical position. It will be understood that the above arrangement provides a spring hinge connection between the cap and the retainer whereby the cap can be yieldingly locked in various angular open positions regardless of the an ular osition of the container.

In act, t ough I have described with great partioularity of detail certain embodiments of the invention; it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular embodiments disclosed. Various modifications thereof in detail and in the arrangement of the parts may he made by those skilled in the art without departure from the invention as defined in the following claims.

' What I claim is x '1. A container having a threaded neck in combination with a cap screwing thereon, a retainer rino' also screwing on the threaded neck, a sprlng wire ring having a portion fixedly secured to the cap and having downwardl extending resilient arms formed with latera ly extending pintle portions which engage the retainer ring.

2. A container having a threaded neck in combination with a cap screwing thereon, a retainer for the cap turning on said neck and having outwardly extending ears, a spring ring having a portion fxedly embedded in a groove in the cap and havin resilent arms formed with portions wich pivot in bearings formed in said retainer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

STANLEY M. RUMBOUGH. 

